By Jackie Burrell
Wednesday, August 4th, 2010 at 5:26 am in Family Outings.

76 Trombones: Woodminster’s summer musical series moves into high gear this week with the opening of “The Music Man,” which runs August 6-15 at the Amphitheater in Oakland’s Joaquin Miller Park. Even better: kids 16 and younger are free when accompanied by paying grown-ups (tickets $25-$40). Swing by the box office on the day of to pick up a free kid’s ticket, or visit www.woodminster.com for details.

Butterfly Tales: Butterfly lovers will flock to Oakland’s Children’s Fairyland this weekend to see “Mariposas,” a play based on Latin American folk tales about why butterflies are silent, why they flutter and why they migrate each year. The fluttery fun is at 12:30 and 3 p.m. August 7 and 8. Tickets $7, including admission and all attractions; www.fairyland.org.Mad Science: Join in the scientific fun this weekend when Berkeley’s North Branch Library hosts a “What’s Matter? Science Festival.” The fun, which runs from 10 to 11:30 a.m., includes interactive activity stations and science kits, developed by the Lawrence Hall of Science. Free; www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org.

Screaming Thrills: Explore the physics, biology, thrills and chills behind roller coasters at the new “Scream Machines: The Science of Roller Coasters” exhibit at Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science. Open daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., now through Jan. 2. Tickets $6-12, www.lawrencehallofscience.org.

African Expedition: Embark on a wild African trek at San Francisco’s Academy of Sciences every Saturday this summer at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Meet live animals, check out specimens and celebrate the continent’s biodiversity with an expert guide. Free with museum admission; www.calacademy.org.